Gale Sayers

Tribune archive photo

Gale Sayers was one of football's most explosive runners from 1965 to 1971. In a preview of things to come, the halfback scored touchdowns on long punt and kick returns and a pass play in his first preseason game. During the regular season, he scored a record-tying six touchdowns on a muddy field against the 49ers. From that rookie year, Sayers still has the team record for most touchdowns in a season with 22. He rushed for close to 5,000 yards and scored 336 points over a short career and was the NFL's all-time leader in kickoff returns at the time of his retirement. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977.

Gale Sayers was one of football's most explosive runners from 1965 to 1971. In a preview of things to come, the halfback scored touchdowns on long punt and kick returns and a pass play in his first preseason game. During the regular season, he scored a record-tying six touchdowns on a muddy field against the 49ers. From that rookie year, Sayers still has the team record for most touchdowns in a season with 22. He rushed for close to 5,000 yards and scored 336 points over a short career and was the NFL's all-time leader in kickoff returns at the time of his retirement. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977. (Tribune archive photo)

Gale Sayers was one of football's most explosive runners from 1965 to 1971. In a preview of things to come, the halfback scored touchdowns on long punt and kick returns and a pass play in his first preseason game. During the regular season, he scored a record-tying six touchdowns on a muddy field against the 49ers. From that rookie year, Sayers still has the team record for most touchdowns in a season with 22. He rushed for close to 5,000 yards and scored 336 points over a short career and was the NFL's all-time leader in kickoff returns at the time of his retirement. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977.